Principal's Newsletter

Hello - this is a reminder that you're receiving this email because you have a student at, or have expressed an interest in, Glenbard West High School. Communication between Glenbard West and our families and community is very important to us. Don't forget to add gw_news@glenbard.org to your address book so we'll be sure to land in your inbox! Please email any questions directly to Glenbard Staff, we are happy to respond.

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Dear Glenbard West Parent/Guardian,

Welcome to the 2022-23 school year! We are looking forward to working with your student in order to make this year successful and rewarding! The comprehensive information below will make the process as simple and convenient as possible. Our first attendance day for students is August 10, 2022. If you have any questions, please contact us at 630-469-8600. We are looking forward to a successful 2022-23 school year!

• June 16: Residency Verification Due
• July 1 – July 28: On-Line Registration Open
• July 26: Residency, Registration & Financial Family Assistance (8 a.m . - 7 p.m.)
• July 28: Residency, Registration & Financial Family Assistance (12 p.m. - 7 p.m.)
• July 29: Registration & Payment Due
• August 3-4: Back to School Week
• August 5: Freshmen Orientation
• August 10: First Day of School – Full Day

Required Fees:

• $235 - Registration & Fees (Prompt pay fee of $200 if paid in full by July 28) – fee includes registration; all course fees; student activity pass and digital handbook.

• $149 - iPad Rental Fee*

• $85 - Digital Curriculum Fee

*Fee includes device, charger, case, insurance coverage and loaner program. After the family has made four annual rental payments over the student’s career at Glenbard and the student’s account is paid in full the device will become the property of the student. In other words, this is a rent-to-own program.

Deadline: Families must complete on-line registration and payment by July 28. Registration and payments received after this date will pay the $235 Registration & Fee charge versus the prompt pay fee of $200.

PE Uniform & Lock: PE uniform and lock will be provided to all incoming freshmen. The PE uniform and lock charge of $26 will be directly billed to you for on-line payment. If needed, returning students will be able to purchase PE uniforms and lock once school is in session.

Advance Placement (AP) Fee Process & One Free Test: Glenbard charges the AP exam fee through the registration process in the summer, along with the other student fees. The AP exam is $95 each; AP Seminar & AP Research exams are $143 each. Our School Board has made the investment to pay for the cost of the first AP exam for every student, so families will only be responsible for paying the AP exam fee for their student’s additional exams each year. While we encourage all of our students to take the AP exam, families have the opportunity to cancel their exam in advance of a specific deadline. The cancellation dates will be shared at a later date. After the dates, families will be responsible for a $40 unused/canceled exam fee. If you are in need of financial assistance for AP Exam Fees, please contact the building Assistant Principal for Instruction, Mr. Ben Peterselli.

Optional Fees: The athletic participation fee is $150 per student, per year. The fee allows your student to participate in unlimited sports. Yearbooks are available for purchase through the on-line registration and payment process. Students that sign up for the Behind the Wheel portion of Drivers Education will be charged $350. Parking passes are limited and the annual fee is $200.

Payment of Fees: It is the policy of the Glenbard Board of Education that prior to the first official day of class families should pay fees in full. Payments are due by July 28 for families to realize the prompt-pay discount of $35. The on-line registration process will guide you through the registration and payment process. Families that cannot pay in full due to financial circumstances should refer to the Financial Assistance Programs referenced below.

Payment Plan: Glenbard offers a 4-pay, payment plan that allows you to pay your fees over the course of the school year. IMPORTANT: If you want the optional Athletic Participation Fee to be included in your payment plan, you must select this fee when you register online.

Remember to send your student with a form of payment for classroom materials for any past due fees. Check, cash or Visa/MasterCard are accepted. Please make checks payable to Glenbard West High School - students will fill in the amount owed and will receive a receipt for their purchase. If using a check as payment, be sure your student has multiple checks for all yearbooks, West Nation passes, Booster family Activity passes, Glenbard Gear and any other items of interest, as they are all purchased separately.

PICTURES: Student ID photos taken during Back-to-School Days and will also be used as your student’s yearbook picture. Students should dress neatly and in good taste. We will communicate these details along with other Back-to-School Week information in the coming weeks.

STUDENT ID REQUIREMENTS: Students will be required to carry, and present upon request, their student ID to any Glenbard staff member. Student IDs are required for entry to the building, to get on the bus, lunch purchase, library and lab check in, etc.

STUDENT SCHEDULES: Final schedules will be available online by August via Schoology and PowerSchool. Counselors will be available for questions beginning August 1. Change requests are limited by availability and will only be evaluated as a result of level change, a course needed for graduation requirements that can't be taken otherwise, change due to taking a class in summer school, or a course aligned with post-secondary goals.

Dear Freshman Students and Parents,

Welcome to Glenbard West! We know that the transition to high school is exciting, but also has its challenges. For that reason, West has designed a mandatory orientation to provide our incoming students with the best opportunity for success. New Student Orientation will take place on Friday, August 5th. Orientation will begin at 7:30 a.m. in Biester Gym. All freshmen/new students are required to attend New Student Orientation.

All freshmen/new students will attend orientation sessions led by the Glenbard West Staff and Link Crew Mentors. Our Mentors have undergone several hours of training so that they can assist freshmen students with this transition and provide them with the information needed to successfully begin high school at Glenbard West.

Sessions held at the orientation will acquaint students with members of the staff, allow students the opportunity to meet other freshman students, provide an overview of the academic resources available to students, address expectations for behavior, explain extracurricular opportunities, introduce students to the culture and traditions of Glenbard West, and provide recommendations for academic success and practical tips to help your student succeed at Glenbard West.

On August 5th, bus transportation to orientation will be provided. At Back to School Day on Thursday, August 4th, freshmen will receive information about their bus routes and times. Busses will pick students up at their assigned stops, and will transport students back to their regular stops at the conclusion of Freshman Orientation.

Please encourage your student to eat a healthy breakfast before attending orientation. Students do not need to bring anything to orientation, including iPads. Students will be asked to put their cell phones away during the program. Students should wear comfortable shoes and clothing for walking around the building and being active.

On behalf of the Senior Mentors, Faculty and Staff, we welcome you to the Glenbard West Family and look forward to meeting you on August 5th.

Sincerely,

Chris Mitchell - Assistant Principal for Student Services

FRESHMEN ORIENTATION – AUGUST 5, 2022

7:30 a.m. - 8:20 a.m. Biester Gym

• Senior Mentors Welcome

• Meet Dr. Monaghan

• Student Council President

8:20 a.m. - 10:20 a.m. Classrooms Work with Senior Mentors

• Connect with Senior Mentor

• Learning Your Way Around

• Meet the Deans

10:20 a.m. - 11:15 a.m. Biester Gym

• Dance
• Fight Song
• West Way Spirit with Mr. Mitchell

IMPORTANT DATES FOR FRESHMAN

August 4th: Freshman Registration

August 5th: Freshman Orientation

Freshman PLC Meetings On these days, freshmen are required to remain at school from 2:00 to 2:35 p.m. for additional enrichment activities. Busses will be provided for students at the conclusion of the meetings.

• August 22

• September 12

• September 19

• October 3

• November 7

• December 5

Waiver of School Fees: Families that receive SNAP, TANF or Income Eligible Medicaid should be directly certified for waiver of fees by our business office. Families can also apply for waiver of student fees if they meet the household income eligibility requirements. Families can apply on-line for fee waiver. Information can be found by visiting this link. If you apply for a waiver of school fees you must also sign up for Glenbard’s 6-payment plan. After you select ‘Student Fees’, choose the 6 payment option and complete the information. If your waiver is declined, the 6-payment plan will be activated and your fees will be paid over the course of the school year in 6 equal installments.

IMPORTANT: If you want the optional Athletic Participation Fee to be included in your payment plan, you must select this fee when you register online.

Extended Summer Hours: Daytime and evening hours are available this summer for you to receive assistance to apply for the Fee Waiver. Staff will be available from 8 a.m. until 7 p.m. in the library to assist you with the application process on July 26th and from 12 p.m. to 7 p.m. on July 28th.

RESIDENCY VERIFICATION: All families must verify residency each year prior to registering for school. Residency verification was due June 16. Glenbard verified 90% of our student’s residency electronically. If we could not electronically verify your residency, you should have received a letter in the mail from us in May, requiring you to verify residency in person or by mail by the due date referenced above. Verification of residency protects all of our families and ensures that only students that live in our school district boundaries attend Glenbard schools. It is illegal to attend school in a district where you are not a resident. Contact Mr. Chris Mitchell, Assistant Principal for Student Services for more information.

Providers: Glenbard contracts with First Student for regular education transportation services. Hopewell Inc. provides transportation services for our special education transportation needs.

Routes: Glenbard uses transportation routing software to lower transportation costs and increase efficiency. Bus routes may be different from one school year to the next as routes are re-evaluated. Route information for your student will be available on-line, on your school website.

Bus Route Information: Students that are eligible for free transportation (living 1.5 miles or further from Glenbard West High School) will find their bus route number as well as pick-up and drop-off times and locations on their schedules at Back-to-School Week. Additional transportation information can be found on Glenbard’s Bus Information page.

Student ID - Ridership Requirements: Students are required to present upon request their student ID to any bus driver or Glenbard staff member. Students not able to produce their ID will be required to receive a temporary pass to ride the PM bus. Students not able to produce their ID will be referred to the Deans’ Office for appropriate consequences.

Students will be responsible for riding their designated buses. Bus drivers and school administrators will deny requests for students to ride other routes than previously assigned unless pre-approved by the Deans’ office.

Hey, Hilltoppers! The Glenbard West English Department is excited to share with you all our summer reading opportunities for all students. While our honors and AP-level courses have a required assignment to complete before the first day back, all students are encouraged to use the summer to enjoy reading for pleasure. Check out the linked slide deck and/or join our Schoology group for more information.

Summer Reading Slide Deck

Schoology Code: MD6D9-8VXR9

Freshman:

All freshmen are required to provide an updated school physical for freshman year as part of enrollment. This physical is to be turned into the health office by July, 15 2022. This physical must be less than 1 year old at the start of the school year (freshman physicals can be accepted that are dated on/after August 10, 2021). click here for physical specifics and needed immunizations.

Seniors:

All seniors must show proof of having two doses of the meningococcal vaccine with the first dose on or after the 10th birthday and the second on or after the 16th birthday. If the first dose was given after the 16th birthday only one is required. Proof of the meningococcal vaccine is to be turned into the health office by July, 15 2022. click here for additional information.

All fall sports begin on Monday, August 8, 2022. Fall sports include Boys and Girls Cross Country, Boys and Girls Golf, Football, Boys Soccer, Girls Volleyball, Girls Tennis, Girls Swimming and Girls Field Hockey. Please look for specific practice times that will be posted on our athletic website as we get closer to the season. Information will also be available at registration week.

In order to participate, registration must be completed on the parent portal in PowerSchool which includes the Athletic Code agreement and concussion awareness agreement. In addition, a current physical within the last 13 months MUST be turned into the Athletic Office prior to practicing. The Glenbard West Athletic Handbook can be found on the Athletic website as well.

Please note that our mandatory Fall Parent Athlete Meeting will take place on Tuesday, August 16th at 6:30 p.m. in Biester Gym. You will learn important updates with regards to fall sports, Booster involvement, and our District wide GPS series. This will help both new and returning athletes and their families familiarize themselves with Glenbard West Athletics as we get ready for a great year.

SCHEDULES OF ATHLETIC PROGRAMS, REFER TO https://il.8to18.com/glenbardwest/

I want to congratulate the following Spring Sports teams and individuals who experienced outstanding success at the conclusion of the spring. Here are a few highlights:

Congratulations to Audrey Allman, State Champion in the 1600m run at the IHSA 3A Girls Track and Field State Finals

Congratulations to Sullivan Monteith, JT Gialluisi, and George Bender for competing at the IHSA 2A Boys Tennis State Finals

Congratulations to Baseball, IHSA Regional Champions

Congratulations to Girls Soccer, who won the IHSA Sectional for the first time since 1997

Congratulations to Boys Volleyball, IHSA State Champions

Events for the 2022 - 2023 school year will be contingent

upon safety guidelines of District 87.

The Glenbard Parent Series (GPS): Navigating Healthy Families is a distinguished speaker series dedicated to presenting relevant, high-profile authors, educators, and clinicians. These high-caliber presenters offer practical research-based knowledge, strategies, and personal experience to support students' engaged learning, and well-being. Founded in 1995, GPS is a weekly resource for parents/caregivers/guardians (for children of all ages) as well as students, school staff, professionals and community members. GPS is here to inform, connect, and inspire. All programs are free and open to the public. Many events are presented at both noon and 7 p.m., and we offer programming in multiple languages.

More details at GlenbardGPS.org

At Glenbard West, we offer a violence and bullying hotline which allows students to provide anonymous information to school officials regarding potential school threats or bullying incidents. The number is (630) 942-7406.

Additionally, students can text a CRISIS Test Line: Text HOME to 74141 which sends information to a Crisis Counselor, a real-life human being trained to help individuals return to a healthy/stable level of functioning.

The State of Illinois is launching a school safety program called Safe2Help Illinois in an effort to raise awareness of the 21st-century threats facing schoolchildren in Illinois. Safe2Help Illinois will offer students a safe, confidential way in which to share information that might help prevent suicides, bullying, school violence or other threats to school safety. This program is intended to get students to “Seek Help Before Harm.” Call 844-472-3345 or Text 72332(SAFE2) to report.

The Attorney General's Safety Tips homepage contains several links that may provide additional helpful resources https://www.illinoisattorneygeneral.gov/children/index.html

Students who wish to report a potential act of school violence at Glenbard West may also leave an anonymous message with our Police Liaison Officer at (630) 942-7463.

Email: gw_news@glenbard.org
Website: glenbardwesths.org
Location: 670 Crescent Blvd.
Phone: (630) 469-8600
Twitter: @GWHilltoppers